The Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) is a non-profit organization that uses design competitions to promote large-scale renewable energy installations with similar output to turbines that are both functional and beautiful. These projects are called “Land Art Generators,” and are intended to be placed in locations that will attract visitors and enhance the local environment. One example of this is Windstalk, a wind energy installation located in the desert near Abu Dhabi.

Art and functionality combine to create aesthetic-oriented energy 

The global drive to lower the carbon footprint left by energy generation has inspired artistic effects in various parts of the world, and the results are interesting, to say the least.

Some examples of Land Art Generators in the U.S. are Mags Harries and Lajos Héder’s SunFlowers in Austin, Texas, Riccardo Mariano’s Arch of Time in Houston, Texas, and the Sonic Boom in Seattle, Washington are some prime examples of how art can be utilized to highlight renewable energy generation.

Abu Dhabi is one of the latest regions to showcase energy-focused art, and it’s offering has witnesses in awe of how it combines sculpture and function to create a cultural landmark. Called “Windstalk,” the installation uses more than 1,200 long, thin carbon fiber poles that sway back and forth in response to the wind. Each pole is approximately 55 meters high and is made of flexible carbon fiber. This flexibility allows the poles to move up and down in the wind rather than spinning like a turbine.

Inside each pole, small disks made of piezoelectric ceramics compress together as the pole moves in response to the wind. When these disks compress, they generate an electric current. Thus, instead of using gears, motors, or other moving parts to create electricity, the movement of the pole itself creates the electricity.

Using flexible poles instead of spinning blades greatly reduces the amount of noise created by wind turbines and eliminates the flickering shadows caused by spinning blades. Finally, because the poles generate electricity based on the movement of the pole, they can function in much calmer winds than a spinning-blade turbine would.

During daylight hours, Windstalk serves its main purpose of generating electricity

At night, however, Windstalk takes on another role: it becomes a visual representation of the wind’s movement through the use of soft lighting. The lights are installed along the length of the poles and are bright enough to be seen from a distance. When the wind blows across the poles, the lights create waves of light that travel across the field, making the entire area appear to come alive.

During windy days and nights, Windstalk transforms into a public art installation that displays the wind’s movement in real-time. People are able to view the installation during day and night and witness the invisible force of the wind in a way they never could before.

The layout of the poles follows a spiral pattern similar to that of sunflowers

This arrangement provides the best airflow and also maintains pedestrian pathways throughout the installation. To further take advantage of the collected rainwater, the surrounding land will be landscaped with native desert plants.

By placing Windstalk in Abu Dhabi, the project demonstrates more than just artistic innovation

This vision of clean energy being a part of daily life and something to be proud of is one that LAGI has promoted all over the world to help minimize the negative impact of siting conflicts and to foster community pride and ownership of local power sources.

Windstalk proves that if a developer designs an energy-producing facility to be visually pleasing and inclusive. Windstalk can significantly reduce the distance between the public perception of the facility and their actual acceptance of it. Ultimately, what started as 1200 “shaking in the air” ultimately became a destination that produces electricity and curiosity at the same time, demonstrating that the transition to a sustainable energy future can have the potential to positively affect and enrich our public spaces.